Early Christian Views of Bible Texts
Early Christian writers prized careful Bible reading, trusted the Hebrew and Greek Scriptures, and argued that the text should be compared closely. Origen especially speaks about checking Hebrew copies against Greek ones, while Irenaeus and Justin Martyr defend the Greek translation of the Old Testament. The writings here support a strong early concern for biblical text accuracy, translation, and faithful reading.
117 early-church witnesses · 216 source quotations · compared with Scripture
What did early Christians believe about the Hexapla and Biblical Texts?
Early Christian writers do not talk about the Hexapla often by name in this set, but they do give a clear answer about biblical texts: they treated the Scriptures as needing careful comparison, translation, and defense against later changes. Irenaeus, Justin Martyr, Clement of Alexandria, Origen, Tertullian, and others all speak about Hebrew originals, Greek translations, and the need to test readings carefully.
Origen is the strongest witness here for comparing Hebrew and Greek copies, while Irenaeus and Justin argue that the Jewish Scriptures were translated into Greek before Christ. The evidence is broad on early concern for textual accuracy and translation history, but thin on direct Hexapla references, so the topic is best handled as a study of early Christian views of biblical text comparison rather than of the Hexapla itself.
Many more early Christian quotations, Bible passages, and source links are gathered below so you can study the evidence for yourself.
Key Takeaways
- Early Christians cared about comparing Bible texts carefully, not reading them loosely.
- Origen is the clearest witness here for comparing Hebrew copies with Greek copies.
- Irenaeus and Justin Martyr defend the Greek translation of the Old Testament as early and trustworthy.
- The evidence is strong for text comparison, but only thin for direct Hexapla references.
Questions Answered by the Sources
Did early Christians appeal to Hebrew and Greek Bible translations?
Several early writers say the Scriptures were translated from Hebrew into Greek and that Christian teachers used those translations in argument and teaching. The sources also present this translation history as a deliberate and public matter, not a private or late development.
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Origen, Exhortation to Martyrdom Direct teaching
..., and schinos and schisis. These words, as they sound in Greek, can be used in this way, but not in Hebrew. In answer to this, I have to tell you what it is fitting for us to do, not only in cases like the History of Susanna, which is found in every Church of Christ in that Greek copy which the Greeks use, but is not in the Hebrew; or in the case of the two other passages you mention at the end of the book, containing the history of Bel and the Dragon, which likewise are not in the Hebrew copy of Daniel; but also in thousands of other passages which I found in many places when, with my little strength, I was comparing the Hebrew copies with ours. For in Daniel itself I found that the word "bound" is followed in our versions by very many verses which are not in the Hebrew at all. They begin, according to one of the copies that circulate in the Churches, like this: "Ananias, and Azarias, and Misael prayed and sang to God," down to, "O, all you that worship the Lord, bless the God of gods. Praise Him, and say that His mercy endures for ever and ever. And it came to pass, when the king heard them singing, and saw that they were alive." Or, as in another copy, from, "And they walked
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Origen, Exhortation to Martyrdom Supporting witness
3. And in many other sacred books, I found that our copies sometimes have more than the Hebrew, and sometimes less. I will give a few examples, since it is impossible to give them all. In the Book of Esther, neither the prayer of Mardochaios nor that of Esther is found in the Hebrew, though both are fitted to edify the reader. Neither are the letters: neither the one written to Amman about the rooting up of the Jewish nation, nor that of Mardochaios in the name of Artaxerxes, delivering the nation from death. Then in Job, the words from "It is written, that he shall rise again with those whom the Lord raises," to the end, are not in the Hebrew, and so they are not in Aquila's edition. But they are found in the Septuagint and in Theodotion's version, agreeing with each other at least in sense. And I found many other places in Job where our copies have more than the Hebrew ones, sometimes a little more, and sometimes a great deal more. A little more, for example, when to the words, "Rising up in the morning, he offered burnt-offerings for them according to their number," they add, "one heifer for the sin of their soul"; and to the words, "The angels of God came to present themselves
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Origen, Commentary on John Supporting witness
...thany, the House of obedience? So we see that anyone who seeks a complete understanding of the Holy Scriptures must not neglect careful examination of the proper names in it. In the matter of proper names, the Greek copies are often incorrect, and in the Gospels one might be misled by their authority. The event about the swine, which were driven down a steep place by the demons and drowned in the sea, is said to have taken place in the country of the Gerasenes. Now Gerasa is a town of Arabia, and has neither sea nor lake near it. And the Evangelists would not have made a statement so plainly and demonstrably false, for they were men who investigated carefully all matters connected with Judea. But in a few copies we have found, “into the country of the Gadarenes.” And if we read it that way, it must be said that Gadara is a town of Judea, near which are the well-known hot springs, and that there is no lake there with overhanging banks, nor any sea. But Gergesa, from which the name Gergesenes is taken, is an old town near the lake now called Tiberias. On its edge there is a steep place reaching down to the lake, from which, it is shown, the swine were thrown down by the demons. No
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Origen, On Prayer Background
but in Hebrew they are quite distinct. But all the books of the Old Testament have been translated from Hebrew into Greek.
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Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness
And each having severally translated each prophetic book, and all the translations being compared together, they agreed both in meaning and expression.
Did early Christians notice differences between biblical manuscripts and versions?
Origen says he compared Hebrew copies with Greek ones and found places where Christian copies sometimes had more or less than the Hebrew. Other sources likewise mention careful comparison, exact copies, and different versions, showing active attention to textual variation.
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Justin Martyr, Hortatory Address to the Greeks Direct teaching
If anyone claims that the writings of Moses and the other prophets were also written in Greek, let them read secular histories and learn that Ptolemy, the king of Egypt, after building the library in Alexandria and gathering books from everywhere, discovered that very ancient histories written in Hebrew were carefully preserved. Wanting to know their contents, he summoned seventy wise men from Jerusalem who knew both Greek and Hebrew and appointed them to translate the books. To ensure they could complete the translation quickly without disturbance, he had built, not within the city, but seven stadia away (where the Pharos was built), as many small huts as there were translators, so each could work independently. He instructed the officers responsible for this task to attend to them but prevented them from communicating with each other so that the accuracy of the translation could be verified by their agreement. When he learned that the seventy men not only conveyed the same meaning but used the same words, without disagreement even to one word, he was amazed and believed the translation was done by divine power, realizing that the men were worthy of all honor as beloved of God. He
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Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho Supporting witness
...create another interpretation. I want you to notice that they have removed many Scriptures from the translations made by those seventy elders with Ptolemy, which prove that this man who was crucified was clearly presented as God, man, and as being crucified and dying. But since I know that this is denied by all of your nation, I will not address these points. Instead, I will continue my discussion using the passages you still accept. You agree with those I have presented, except you dispute the statement, ‘Behold, the virgin shall conceive,’ and argue it should be, ‘Behold, the young woman shall conceive.’ I promised to prove that the prophecy referred not to Hezekiah, as you were taught, but to this Christ of mine, and now I will provide the proof.
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Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Background
It is said that the Scriptures both of the law and of the prophets were translated from the dialect of the Hebrews into the Greek language in the reign of Ptolemy the son of Lagos, or, according to others, of Ptolemy surnamed Philadelphus;
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Supporting witness
And they—for at that time they were still subject to the Macedonians—sent to Ptolemy seventy of their elders, who were thoroughly skilled in the Scriptures and in both the languages, to carry out what he had desired.
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Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness
And they being the subjects of the Macedonians, selected from those of highest character among them seventy elders, versed in the Scriptures, and skilled in the Greek dialect, and sent them to him with the divine books.
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Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Direct teaching
... that the Scriptures of both the Law and the Prophets were translated from the Hebrew language into Greek during the reign of Ptolemy, the son of Lagos, or, according to others, during the reign of Ptolemy called Philadelphus. Demetrius Phalereus worked on this task with the greatest zeal and used careful accuracy with the materials for the translation. At that time, the Macedonians still ruled Asia, and the king wanted to decorate the library at Alexandria with every kind of writing. So he asked the people of Jerusalem to translate the prophecies they possessed into Greek. Since they were subjects of the Macedonians, they chose seventy elders from among the most respected men, men skilled in the Scriptures and also skilled in the Greek language, and sent them to him with the divine books. Then each man translated each prophetic book separately. When all the translations were compared together, they agreed in both meaning and wording. For this was God's plan, carried out for the benefit of Greek listeners. It was not contrary to the inspiration of God, who gave the prophecy, also to bring about the translation and make it, so to speak, a Greek prophecy. Since the Scriptures had
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Supporting witness
But it was interpreted into Greek by the Jews themselves, much before the period of our Lord’s advent, that there might remain no suspicion that perchance the Jews, complying with our humour, did put this interpretation upon these words.
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Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Background
Wherefore also the Scriptures were translated into the language of the Greeks, in order that they might never be able to allege the excuse of ignorance, inasmuch as they are able to hear also what we have in our hands, if they only wish.
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Justin Martyr, Hortatory Address to the Greeks Supporting witness
But if any one says that the writings of Moses and of the rest of the prophets were also written in the Greek character, let him read profane histories, and know that Ptolemy, king of Egypt, when he had built the library in Alexandria, and by gathering books from every quarter had filled it, then learnt that very ancient histories written in Hebrew happened to be carefully preserved;
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Justin Martyr, The First Apology Background
And when their contents were found to be unintelligible to the Egyptians, he again sent and requested that men be commissioned to translate them into the Greek language.
Did early Christians think heretics altered Scripture?
Irenaeus and Tertullian say some heretics shortened, edited, or perverted the Scriptures to support their teaching. Caius also complains that opponents falsified Scripture and preferred invented reasoning over the holy books.
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Direct teaching
...and influenced by Satan, they have been drawn to the teachings of Simon Magus, and strayed in their beliefs from God, imagining they have discovered more than the apostles by finding another god; they claim that the apostles preached the Gospel still somewhat under Jewish influences, but that they themselves are purer in doctrine and more intelligent than the apostles. Thus, Marcion and his followers have resorted to altering the Scriptures, ignoring some books completely, and shortening the Gospel according to Luke and Paul's Epistles, claiming these are the only authentic texts, which they have edited. However, in another work, God willing, I will refute them using those texts they still accept. The rest, inflated by the false notion of "knowledge," do recognize the Scriptures but distort their interpretations, as I showed in the first book. The followers of Marcion directly blaspheme the Creator, claiming him to be the source of evils, while suggesting a more tolerable theory about his origin, maintaining that there are two beings, gods by nature, differing from each other—one good, and the other evil. Meanwhile, those from Valentinus, though using more respectful names and a
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Supporting witness
...rpreted)—truly, these people are shown to be brazen and audacious, who now wish to create different translations, when we refute them using these Scriptures and lead them to believe in the coming of the Son of God. But our faith is steadfast, sincere, and the only true one, having clear proof from these Scriptures, which were interpreted as I have described, and the preaching of the Church is unaltered. For the apostles, being older than all these heretics, agree with this mentioned translation; and the translation aligns with the tradition of the apostles. For Peter, John, Matthew, Paul, and the rest, along with their followers, proclaimed all prophetic announcements just as the interpretation of the elders contains them.
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Caius, Fragments Direct teaching
They have boldly falsified the sacred Scriptures, rejected the rules of the ancient faith, and ignored Christ. They do not ask what the sacred Scriptures say. Instead, they work hard to discover what kind of syllogism they can invent to support their impiety. And if anyone puts a word of divine Scripture before them, they examine whether it can make a connected or a disjoined form of syllogism. Leaving the holy Scriptures of God, they study geometry, like men who are of the earth and speak of the earth, and who are ignorant of Him who comes from above. Some of them carefully study Euclid. Aristotle and Theophrastus are admired. And Galen, forsooth, is perhaps even worshipped by some of them. But these men misuse the arts of unbelievers to establish their own heretical doctrine, and by the craft of the impious they adulterate the simple faith of the divine Scriptures. So what need is there to say that they are not near the faith? For this reason they have boldly laid hands on the divine Scriptures, claiming that they have corrected them. And so that I may not seem to say this falsely against them, anyone who wishes may find out for himself. For if anyone chooses to collect all their
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Tertullian, Apology Supporting witness
...have answered well enough the charges of the many crimes on which these fierce demands are made for Christian blood. We have fully presented our case. We have shown how we can prove that what we say is true, from the trustworthiness and antiquity of our sacred writings, and also from the confession of the powers of spiritual wickedness themselves. Who will dare to refute us, not with skill in words, but, as we have made our demonstration, on the basis of reality? But while the truth we hold is made clear to all, unbelief meanwhile, even at the very time when it is convinced of the worth of Christianity, now well known both for its benefits and from the intercourse of life, takes up the idea that it is not really something divine, but rather a kind of philosophy. "These are the very things," it says, "that the philosophers advise and profess: innocence, justice, patience, sobriety, and chastity." Why then are we not allowed the same freedom and immunity for our teachings that they have, when we are compared with them in what we teach? Or why are they not also forced to the same acts, by refusing which our lives are put in danger, if they are so much like us? For who forces a phil
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Tertullian, Apology Supporting witness
and ambitious, as I have said, of glory and eloquence alone, if they fell upon anything in the collection of sacred Scriptures which displeased them, in their own peculiar style of research, they perverted it to serve their purpose: for they had no adequate faith in their divinity to keep them from changing them, nor had they any sufficient understanding of them, either, as being still at the time under veil — even obscure to the Jews themselves, whose peculiar possession they seemed to be.
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Victorinus, Commentary on the Apocalypse Supporting witness
...ersy against pure tradition and the Catholic faith, while taking offense at Christ, and because the Scriptures also declare Him to be God, and we also believe this, we must rightly contend that Christ is also God, so that every heretical slander may be removed from our faith. Yet we must do this in such a way that it does not go against the truth of Scripture, or against our faith, which declares and believes from Scripture that there is one God. For both those who say that Jesus Christ Himself is God the Father, and those who want Him to be only a man, have drawn from there the sources and reasons for their error and perversity. When they saw that it was written that God is one, they thought they could hold their opinion only by supposing that either Christ was only a man, or else that He was truly God the Father. And they used to join together their clever arguments in such a way as to try to defend their own error. So those who say that Jesus Christ is the Father argue like this: If God is one, and Christ is God, then Christ is the Father, since God is one. If Christ is not the Father, because Christ is God the Son, then it seems that two Gods are introduced, contrary to the
Common Questions
Did early Christians compare Hebrew and Greek Bible texts?
Yes. Origen says he compared Hebrew copies with Greek copies, and other writers discuss the Greek translation of the Old Testament.
Did early Christians think Bible translations mattered?
Yes. Irenaeus, Justin Martyr, and Clement of Alexandria all treat translation history as important when defending Scripture.
Does this page prove the Hexapla was widely used?
Not directly. The strongest evidence is about careful comparison of Hebrew and Greek texts, which fits the world of the Hexapla.
Source Index for the Hexapla and Biblical Texts
The guided sections above show the strongest quotations. This compact index highlights 160 ranked source links from 216 compiled sources for deeper study.
Source index 160 ranked links shown
Early Christian Writings 80 shown of 117
Primary-source quotations from early Christian writers and church documents.
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Cyprian, Connection to Acts 17:11
Bible Passages 80 shown of 99
Related Bible passages saved for comparison with the early Christian quotations.